Banding machine



Nov. 20, 1934. F x MALQCSAY 1,981,366

BANDING MACHINE Filed March 6, -1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l Q INVENTORI Nov.20, 1934. F. x. MALocsAY 1,981,366

I BANDING MACHINE Filed March e, 1954 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR Wamel??/falocsrag/ NOV. 20, 1934. F X, MALOCSAY I 1,981,366

BANDING MACHINE Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES BANDING MACHINEFrancis X. Malocsay, Upper Saddle River, N. J., asslgnor toInternational Banding Machine Company, New York,

New York N. Y., a corporation of Application March 6, 1934, Serial No.714,229

Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in cigar banding machines andhas for its object the provision of a machine by which two cigar bandsmay be simultaneously applied to a cigar.

5 In view of the relatively small size of a cigar band as used at thepresent time upon cigars, it has been fc-und desirable in some cases,toapply two cigar bands to a cigar in order to provide space foradvertising matter. For example, one of the bands employed may containthe trade mark of the cigar and the name of the manufacturer, while theother band may, if desired, differ from the rst in shape and design andpossibly bear an advertising slogan or other descriptive matter. The useof two bands on a cigar not Only enhances the general appearance of thecigar, but affords an opportunity to the cigar manufacturer tounobtrusively advertise his product.

The invention, therefore, relates to a machine which will speedily andaccurately apply two bands simultaneously to each cigar in spacedapartrelationship, with the same facility and einciency of a single-bandapplying machine as used at the present time.

A further object of the invention is to provide means by whichadjustment of the double banding mechanism is had to enable the twobands applied to each cigar to be positioned at a desired distance aparton the cigar.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cigar-feedingmeans movable with a band conveyor, to move a cigar and a bandsimultaneously to band-applying position, and to provide also acigar-aligning means movable with a sec- 35 ond band conveyor to alignthe cigar relative to the banding means.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a two-unit bandingmechanism by which two bands are simultaneously applied to a cigar, andalso two conveyors movable to and from the banding means tosimultaneously deliver to such means the two bands which are applied.

in the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the machine isshown, Fig. 1 is a 43 plan View of the improved machine; Fig. 2 is avertical sectional view through the machine; Fig. 3 is a irontelevation, with parts in section, of one of the band-applying units;Fig. 4 is a side elevation, with parts in section of one of the bandconveying devices and associated parts; Fig. 5 is a plan View of thesupport on which one of the cigars rests during the application of thetwo bands; and Fig. 6 is a front elevaticn of the banded cigar.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings is shown a cigar which (Cl. ISL-,61)

has been banded by the machine of this inven-v tion. It will be thereseen that two separate. spaced cigar bands have been appliedto thecigar.These two bands may be alike in shape or design, or may be entirelydissimilar, according to trade requirements. Both bands are appliedsimultaneously and the spacing of the bands on the cigar may beregulated by simple adjustments of the banding units as WillV behereafter fully pointed out. In the drawings, one of the bands isdesignated by the numeral 23 vand the other by numeral 16.

Referring to the drawings, the machine is provided with a suitableframe, portions of which are disclosed at 10, 11 and 12. At 13 is shownatable supported on the frame portion v12, over which the band-applyingdevices and other parts of the machine are positioned. A portion of thetable, shown at 14, supported by an adjustable frame 18, and supports onbrackets 77 a bandV- stack 15, from which ythe smaller bands 16 areremoved for application to the cigar. This frame portion 18 alsosupports on an outwardly extending lbracket 18a band-conveying mechanismwhich `removes successive cigar vbands from the bottom of the stack 15,carries them' to meistening means and from' thence to'position belowband-applying means generally designated by the numeral 19.

The cigars to be banded,`,indicated at 20 in Fig. 1, are supported onthe tableelements '13 and 14 and are successively fed by an operatorinthe direction of the arrow. Manual move-4 ment of the cigar by theoperator is stopped when the cigar reaches an abutment 21 in the form ofa plate extending vertically from the table portion 14. The cigar,located against the abutment 21, and then in the `position shown indotted lines in Fig. 1 is next pushed to the left in Fig. l, to aposition below the bandY applying device 19 and also below the companionbandapplying device 22,- where the` two bands v16 and 23` aresimultaneously applied to thev cigar. The means which pushes the vcigarto a position be-` low the band-applying units 19 and 22, com` prises aplunger having a head 24 secured on the end of a stem 25 `adjustablyheld in guides, one of which is shown at 26 in Figs. 1, 2 and 4..

AThe guide 26 is secured to' and extends upwardly from a slide 27whichis mounted to reciprocate in the bracket 18a.. The slide is pro-yvided on its under side with a rack 29', meshing with a spur gear 30secured on a shaft 31 mounted vin suitable bearings in the bracket 18a.`Fas-V tened on the shaft 31 is a pinion 32 meshing with a segmentalgear 33y pivoted on a stud 34 on the frame member 18. Projecting fromthe segmental gear is an arm 35 carrying a cam roller 36 actuated by a'cam 37 secured on a cross cam shaft 38 mounted in bearings 39 dependentfrom the frame portion 18. Said. cross cam-shaft 38 carries armitregear40 (Fig. 1) which meshes with a mitre gear 41 slidably held on a shaft42.

Shaft 42 carries a mitre gear 200 which meshes With a mitre gear 201secured on the main cam shaft 99 which is driven by gears from the driveshaft 202 driven by chain 203 from anysuitable source of power. A yoke43 supportedzon the cam shaft 38 engages the` hub of the mitre gear 41,as shown in dotted linesin Fig. 1, so that' the two mitre gears 40 and4lv are constantly held in mesh. The frame member 18, carrying one ofthe band conveyors, and also carrying the band stack 15 and attendantmechanism is adjustable to and from the band-applying units 19;'and22 tocompensate'for cigars of diiierent lengths and to regulate thelpositions of the two bands Ion the rcigars. Frame member 18 is,thereforeysupported on studs 44 (Fig. 2) projectingfrom:thedownwardly-extending ange 45 of the frame `.portion 10. Thesestuds project through bosses.. or `guidesp46 on the frame memberi'lS,and the frame member `18 carrying the bandstack 15 andwband conveyingmechanism and other parts mayybemoved to or from the banding vunits19and2?I and fixed in the desiredposition of adjustment by the setscrews 47. The yoke 43,holdingthe two mitre gears 40 and 41 in constantmesh, will, during the adjustment of 'the'frame member 18 to or from theframe member 10,;l move the mitre gear 41 along'on shaft 42... Shaft 42is splined as indicated at 48 in Fig.;V 1 and permitsjlongit-udinalshifting of themitre gear-41onit, but, ofcourse, rotates the gear 41when itis rotated.

The cam 37 is sofprol'ed as to give an intermittent reciprocating`movement to the slide 27 asfwillbe-hereinaftergdescribed., ,v Theroller36 vis yheld against the edge of the cam, 37 `bynieansoffa coil lspring204 which has onefof itsiends. attached to an arm 205 `extending fromthe segment 33, and itsv other end attached toxfasimi'lar arm on anothersegment 33 at the left side of the machine. Y y.

Mounted von the upperside of the slide 27 is aiY bracket 50 onpwhich -ispivotallyfastened at 51,`.one ofthe parts 52 comprising the bandconveyor 53whi'ch has fastened` to itsfree end an extension 54m the endof which are located two suction holes v55; The suction holes areconnectedby air .passages which extend lengthwise through theextension54 and terminate in a nozzle S6-extending fromV the side of the member52; 'Aexible air tube 57 connects the nozzle 56ste a; source of suction,such as a suitable'suc tion pump,notshown.

The band conveyor has a swinging movement, that isto say, a raisingandlowering action on itspivot. 51, which is brought about in the iollowingmanner.. When the machine is in its normal 'or stop position, a roller58 mounted on a stud 59 extendingy from the side ofthe meinb'er 52 isdirectly over and in contact with a shoe 60 formed on'the end of a cam1ever61 Whichfis ypivoted at 62 on the frame member 18;? VAn arm 63 ofthe cam lever 61 carriesa cam roller 64 'held in contact with av cam 65fastenedI onf.the.1shaft 38. (See Fig. 2).y The cam 65 `is so profiledas to rock cam lever-61 on its pivot `the band stack 15. The machinestarts its cycle an arm 82 formed on thev bracket 78.

62 to cause the shoe 60 to raise and lower the conveyor when it is inposition with its suction holes 55 in line with the stack of bands 15.The roller 58 is held in constant contact with the face of the shoe 60by means of a spring 66 which has its lower end attached to the bracket50 and its upper end securedto a pin v67 extending from a lug 68projecting upwardly from the top of the member 52.

When the machine is in its normal or stop position, the suction holes 55in the extension member 54 of the conveyor are directly beneath ofoperation,.and through the action of the cam 65, the shoer60, operatingagainst the roller 58,

raises the conveyor 53 'to swing the extension member 54 thereof upwardagainst the lowermost band in the stack 15. Suction is then exertedthrough the holes 55 causing the lowermost band to adhere to the face oftheY extension member 54 With the printedfface ofthe band disposeduppermost. The conveyor 53, with the band pneumatically held on it, isthen lowered and is, K by movement of the slide 27 carried to the left100 and to a position Where the gum at one end of the band ismoistenedpreparatory to the application of the band about the cigar.Upward movementY of the conveyor 53 under the impulse oi the shoe 60 isrestrained bye stop pin 69 which has a limited movement in `a slot 70formed in a plate 71 secured to and extending up-wardly from the bracket50.

The band magazine, inwhich the stack 15 is contained, issirnilai` .tothat in which'the other stack 75 is contained `and therefore, adescription of one will suiiice for both. Each stach comprises twovertically disposed uprights or end supporting members 76 secured to thebrackets `'Wand 78 attached to the frame member 18.115 Each oftheupriglfits 76-carries a pairy of pivoted side gui-:ie 'rods l72)Which are adjustable to and awayfrom each other ,by means of a right andleft hand threaded screw 80 to taire care of vbands 0;? variouswidths... Drivenin thebase of these 12o uprights 76 are supporting pins,not' shown which support the stack of bands. `Asgthe construction `ofthis band` stack isiully shown and described in my prior Patent No.1,812,704,4 a further de' scription `of-.it here is deemed unnecessary.125 Suflice it to state that it supports the band stack in such a waylas to permit the successive re- 'moval of the lower-most band-from thestack by the pneumatic band conveyor. i

After a band has been removedfrom the bottom of the stack, the slide 27is then moved to the left of Figs'l 1 and and pauses with the gummed endof the band supported by it positioned directly beneath ar cushionmember 81 in the form of 'a rubber pad or block which isheld in Amoistened .tape 83 extending over ainoistening lhead'84, is then movedupwardly through an aperture 85 (Fig. 5) inthe frame-fmemberl 18 andtable supported on it, and is brought into 1.11.1 contact with thegummed end of the band-forcing the upper face of the band into Contactwith the cushion 81 and moistening the gum on the band. The moisteningdevice of which the tape 83,' moistening head 84 and cushion 81 formpart, is not herein shown and described in detail sinceit is fullydescribed in my prior Patent No. 1,653,644. It is sufficient to statethat when the band held by the conveyor pauses below vthe cushion member81, the tape` 83 is moved up- 15o Wardly to moisten the gummed end ofthe band. The moistened band 16 is next carried to a position below theband-applying unit 19 where it is applied about the cigar.

The band applying units 19 and 22 are alike in construction andoperation and are so coupled together that they act to simultaneouslywrap the bands 23 and 16 about the cigar. These coupled banding unitswill now be described. Mounted to slide in suitable bearings and 91 inthe frame (Fig. 2) is a vertical shaft 92 having secured on its extremeupper end a frame or bracket 93. Secured at the lower end of thevertical shaft 92 is a yoke 94 which connects to the lower end of aconnecting rod 95 having its upper end pivotally attached to a cam lever96 carrying a roller 97 which is actuated by a cam 98 secured on themain cam shaft 99 of the machine. Cam lever 96 is pivoted at 100 in abearing 101 secured to and projecting from the frame of the machine(Fig. 1). The cam 98 is so proiiled as to impart an intermittentvertical reciprocating movement to the vertical shaft 92 and since thetwo banding units are carried by this shaft, they are raised and loweredat the proper time. The coil spring 102 surrounding the shaft 92 aids inthis operation, said spring having its lower end bearing against a guidebracket 103 secured on the shaft 92 and provided with an end 104 havinga square opening extending through it, which opening fits on a squareguide post 105 supported in the frame part `12. Through this arrangementof guiding means, vertical movement of the shaft 92 without swing aboutits longitudinal axis, is secured. Held in suitable bearings 106 and 107of the frame or bracket 93 is a vertical hollow stem 108 (Fig. 3)carrying a platen 109 on its lower end. The upper end of said hollowstem is threaded for the purpose of adjustment by means of the nuts 110and 111, said end terminating in a hose nozzle 112 to which is attacheda flexible tube 113, the other end of which is attached to a T-shapedhose nozzle 114 on the end of the vertical shaft 92 which has an airpassage extending through it for its entire length, to the lower end ofwhich is connected a iiexible tube 115 connecting with a pump or othersuitable suction-creating means,

v by which air is exhausted from the hollow stem 108 as will beexplained.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that a spring 116 enclosing thehollow stem 108 between the shoulder 117 of the stem and the bearing.-106 tends to keep the hollow stem in its lowered position. The hollowstem 108 is raised against the tension of the spring 116 when the platen109 comes into contact with the cigar, as shown in Fig. 3, as thevertical shaft 92 is moved down- Ward. Mounted on the shafts `113 and119 are rocking folder arms 120 and 121. Rocking folder arm 121 turnsfreely on the shaft 119, which is fixed in the bracket 93, while folderarm 120 is keyed on the shaft 118 which turns in bearings 122 and 123located on the opposite sides of the bracket 93. Each of the rockingfolder arms 120 and 121 carry a pivotally mounted folding finger 124,held in their normal positions by means of leaf springs 125 which exerta pressure against the upwardly extending members 126, said membersresting against stops 127 provided on the inner side of the arms 120 and121. Each of the lingers 124 carries a small roller 128, at its freeend, and a roller 129 on its pivot pin 130. The platen 109 is slotted toreceive the end of the folding tapes 131, said tapes passing under thefingers 124 and around the rollers 129, their ends being attached to theends of the vsprings 132, which are in turn attached to the springposts133 secured in the upper ends of the rocking folder arms 120 and 121,said springs 132 causing the folder tapes 131 to vbe held under tension.The upwardly extending end 134 of the folder arm 121 is connected to alink 135, the other end of said link being connected to the armof a bellcrank 136 mounted on a stud 137 in the frame or bracket 93. Pivotallyconnected to the other arm of the bell crank 136 is a downwardlyextending connecting link 133 which extends to suitable cam mechanismoperating at the proper time to rock the bell crank 136 about its axis137 to cause it to operate through the link 135 and move the folder armabout its axis 119 to bring its lower end either to or from the hollowstem 108.

The movement of the folder arm 121 to its open position is limited bythe upper end 124 of said folder arm coming in contact with a stop 139secured in the upper bearing 106 of the frame or bracket 93. Secured onthe shaft 118 is a downwardly depending iinger 140 providedwith aprojecting stud 141 to which is attached one end of a coil spring 142having its other end attached to a stud or spring post 143 in thebracket 93. Pivoted at 144 in the bracket 93 is a bellcrank having anupwardly extending arm 145 adapted to bear against the finger 140. Theother arm 146 of the bell crank is attached to the upper end of a link147 which extends to cam mechanism by which the bell-crank is actuated.By the mechanism just described, folder arm 120 is caused to move to andfrom the hollow stem 103 as required to properly function during theband application.

The description of the banding unit thus'far l given, has been that ofthe unit 22. The unit 19 is generally similar to the unit 22, andsimilar parts in both units bear similar reference characters. As willbe clear from Figs. 1 and 2, the bracket 93 is formed with a boss 148from which a short shaft 149 extends, said shaft passing through andsupporting a bracket 150 which-is generally similar to the bracket 93,in that it acts as a support or carrier for the rocking folder arms andother associated mechanism` of the unit 19. The shaft 118 on which thefolder arm 120 is keyed, is also keyed to the similar folder arm 120.01cthe bander unit 19. Consequently when the springy 142, and co-operatingelements 140 and 145 move the folder arm 120 on the unit 22, a similarfolder arm on the unit 19 Will-,be simultaneously and similarly moved.AFolder arm 121 of the bander unit 22 carries a dog 151 which engageswith a complementary dog member 152 secured to the folder arm 121 ofunit 19. In this way, when arm 121 of unit 22 is moved, it will, throughthe engagement of the dog members 151 and 152, correspondingly move thesimilar folder arm 121 of unit 19. Unit 19 is 'adjustable to and fromunit 22 by loosening the set screw-153 which passes through the bracket150 and then moving the entire unit 19 to or from the unit 22, andthereafter tightening the set screw when the proper position ofadjustment of one unit relative to the other has been secured. Throughthis arrangement, the relative positions of the two bands 16 and 23 onthe cigar can be regulated to suit different requirements. As will beclear from Figs. 1 and 2 the upper end of the hollow tube 108 on bandinglunit 19 is connected by a exible tube 154 to the T-connection 114 atthe upper end ofthe vertical shaft 92" so -that whenl suctionis exertedthrough said shaft, the air inplatens 108` of both of the banding unitswill be exhausted.

At the left side of the machine, when viewed as in Figs. 1 and 2, is aband conveyor 155 which is similar in every respect to the conveyor 53at the right side of the machine. The mechanism for reciprocating theconveyor 155 is similar in all respects to that employed forreciprocating the conveyor at the right side of the machine. Referencenumerals similar to those employed on the parts for reciprocating andraising and lowering the conveyor 53 are used to indicate the like partswhich operate similarly with respect to the conveyor 155. The cams 37and 65 which reciprocate and raise and lower the conveyor 155respectively, are in this conveyor mechanism,l secured on the shaft 99.In all other respects, the conveyor 155 operates similarly to theconveyor 53. That is to say, it takes a band from the bottom ofthe bandstack and carries it to a point below the cushion 81 where the `band hasits gummed end moistened. Thereafter it carries the moistened band to aposition below the band unit 22. An adjustable rod 156, similar to thatshown at 25 at the right side of the machine, is carried by the slide onwhich the conveyor 155 is mounted and this rod has its inner endprovided'with a V- shapedgauge 157. When the conveyor 155 has reachedthe end of its stroke inwardly or toward the banding unit 22, the guide157 has been moved inwardly and is so positioned that it will receivethe end of the cigar located below the banding units 19 and 22, and willact to position said cigar in proper alignment with the banding units.The

rod 156 is longitudinally adjustable so that the V- shaped guide may beso positioned relative to its slide that it'will accommodate cigars ofdiiferent lengths. p

4The-manner in which the cigars are banded willlnow be readilyunderstood. In Fig. 1 the parts of the machine are in their normal orstop position, at which time it will be seen that the conveyors 53 and155 have their suction holes 55 located directly below the band stacks15 and 75 =respectively. The conveyors are elevated so that they areV incontact with the -lowermost band in their respective stacks. Suction: isexerted through the holes 55 and the conveyors are lowered and thenmoved toward one another, carrying the bands which they have removedfrom the stacks to the moistening position. The meistening tapes 8.3provided below each of the cushions L 81 ascend to moisten the gummed`ends of the two bands. The conveyorsthen continue their movement towardeach other and bring their bands below the platen 109 of each oi thebanding units 19 and 22. This occurs while-the banding units are intheir raised position and the bands are carriedfby the conveyors overthe cigar which has been pushedto banding position by the head 24 ofplunger 25 and is located beneath the banding units and over apertures158 in the table. Vacur um in the conveyors is broken and at the sametime the air is exhausted from the hollow stems 108 of both of thebanding units, thereby translferring the bands from the conveyors to thetwo platens 109 of the bandingA units. The conveyors then move away7leaving the machine in its nor- .mal or stop position.

Y The hollow stems 108 of both banding units, by operation of thevertical shaft 92, move downlwardly until the bands rest on the cigar,compressing `the springs 116 'as the folding mechanisms continue downto-their-lowermost position.

hollow stems-by the cigar,v together with the folder tapes 131, the endsof which are attached tothe platen 109 on each of the hollow stems 72,has wrapped the band around the top and both sides of the cigar, thebeginning of 4which movement.v is shown in- Fig. 3, leaving both ends ofsaid band extending downwardly through apertures 158 and directly in thepath of fold-ing tapes 131 and the folding ngers 124. The connectedrocking folder arms 120 of both banding-units then` move to` theirclosed position, the folding iingers 124 carriedvby said arms bringingthe folding tapes 131 and the ungummed ends of the bands around theunder side of the cigar. y The rocking folder arms 121 now move towardtheirclosed position carry-,- ing the folder tapes 131 and the gulnmedends of the bands around and over the ungummed end, while the rocking`folder arms v120 are moved to their open position. The rocking folderarms 121 now move to'their open position, and during this movement arubber cushion 159 on the upper face of a reciprocating iinger 160 ismoved upwardly through each of the apertures 158 into contact with andexerting a yielding pressure on the overlapped ends of the bands. Thebanding mechanism, comprising the two coupled units 19 and 22 is thenraised and the discharge mechanism carries the banded cigar along withit and away from the banding mechanism.

Any suitable means may be employed for moving the Abanded cigars awayfromvthe banding units, examples of several of such ejection de- .Theretarding ofthe downward movement of the A l vices being shown in mypatents, Nos. 1,812,704

consists primarily of iingers 161 which co-operate with the cushions orpads 159 to engage the banded cigar and carry itbeneath retainingmembers 162 which press lightly upon the cigars beneath them and keepthemv from rotating. l

The operation oi the machine is brieflyv as lows:

lThe operator, positioned in portion 13, atthe lower portion of Fig. 1,slides a cigar inwardly to the position shown vin dotted lines nthatiigure until the cigar abuts against the stop plate 21. The machine isthen started and conveyors 53 and 155 draw bands from the respectivestacks 15 `and 75 and move them to i the moistening position where thegum on the two bands is moistened. As conveyor 531 moves toward the leftin Fig. '1, the head 24 of plunger 25 slides the cigar toward the left,and as confolried by it beneath the platen 109 of the banding unit 19,the cigar has been moved by the head 24 to banding position beneath theplatens of the two'Y banding units, as shown in Fig. 5. Ink themeantime, the V-shaped head 157 on the rod 156 has, by movement of theslide carrying conveyor 155, been moved to soposition it that thefrontof the table 12,0

veyor 53 reaches a position with the band carv tip of the cigar thenmoved into banding posi- What I claim is:

1. In a cigar banding machine, means for simultaneously applying twocigar bands to a cigar in spaced apart relationship and means forregulating the spacing of the bands on the cigar.

2. In a cigar banding machine, a cigar banding unit for applying a bandabout a cigar, a second cigar banding unit, and means for coupling thetwo units together so that they simultaneously operate each to apply aband about a single cigar.

3. In a cigar banding machine, means for simultaneously applying twobands about a cigar, two band stacks, a conveyor for removing successivebands from each stack, and means for simultaneously moving the twoconveyors to cause them each to bring a band to the band applying means.

4. In a cigar banding machine, two band conveyors movable to and fromone another, a band stack for each conveyor and from which each conveyorreceives a band, moistening means for moistening each band while it isheld on its conveyor, and banding means positioned betweenl the twoconveyors for receiving a band from each and simultaneously applying thetwo bands about a cigar.

5. In a cigar banding machine, two band stacks, two band conveyors, eachof which removes a band from a stack and moves the band to a positionwhere it is rendered adhesive, and then moves it to a second positionwhere it is applied to a cigar, and banding means for receiving the twobands and applying them simultaneously at spaced positions on a cigar.

6. In a cigar banding machine, a band applying device provided with apair of arms having pivoted ngers and tapes for applying a band about acigar, a second band applying device also having a pair of arms withpivoted iingers and tapes for applying a second band about the cigar,and connections between the rst pair of arms and the second pair of armswhereby the second pair of arms is actuated simultaneously with thefirst pair.

7. In a cigar banding machine, means for applying two bands about acigar, two conveyors for bringing two bands simultaneously to theband-applying means, means movable with one of the conveyors for movinga cigar to banding position, and means movable with the other conveyorfor aligning the cigar relative to the bandapplying means.

8. In a banding machine, band-applying means, conveying means forcarrying bands to the band-applying means, a cigar-moving elementmovable with the conveying means to push a cigar to banding position,and a cigar-aligning means also movable with the conveying means toalign a cigar with respect to the band-applying means as said cigar ismoved into banding position by the cigar-moving element.

9. In a banding machine, band-applying means for applying two bands inspaced relation on a cigar, two conveyors movable to and from oneanother to carry the two bands to the bandapplying means, a cigar-movingelement movable with one of the conveyors to slide a cigar to bandingposition, and a cigar-aligning device 'movable with the second conveyorto align the cigar moved into banding position by the cigarmovingelement.

10. In a banding machine, band applying means, two band conveyors, meanscarried with one conveyor to move an article to banding position andmeans movable with the other conveyor to align the article, thepositioning and alignment of the article occurring on movement of` thetwo conveyors toward one another.

11. In a cigar banding machine, a frame for supporting means forapplying two bands in spaced relationship to a cigar, a conveyor andband stack supported on said frame in definite spaced relationship tothebanding means, a frame portion adjustable relative to the bandingmeans, means for maintaining the adjustment of said frame portionrelative to the frame, andA a band conveyor and band stack supported onsaid frame portion and movable with it to or from the banding means.

12. In a cigar banding machine, a banding device provided with movable,banding elements operative to apply a band aboutva cigar, a second banddevice positioned adjacent to the first, said second device beingprovided with banding elements, and coupling means between the bandingelements on the iirst device and the banding elements on the seconddevice to cause the elements of both devices to be operated in unison,and means for operating the banding elements of the first device.

13. In a cigar banding device, a pair of reciprocating band conveyorssimultaneously movable to and from one another, a band stack for each ofthe conveyors and from which each conveyor removes bands, a moisteningdevice foreach conveyor which meistens a band when held on eachconveyor, a double-unit banding device situated between the conveyorsand positioned to receive a band from each conveyor at the end of thestroke of each conveyor toward one another7 and means for operating bothunits of the banding device in unison so that both bands are appliedthereby to a cigar.

14. In a cigar banding machine, banding means provided with a pair ofmovable elements operating to apply a band about a cigar, a second pairof movable elements for applying a second band to the cigar, couplingmeans between the two pairs of elements to operate them in unison tosimultaneously apply the two bands to the cigar, two conveyors, meansfor supplying successive bands to each conveyor for delivery thereby tothe banding means, means for moving both conveyors in unison toward andaway from the banding means, means for adjusting one pair of the movableband-applying elements relative to the other pair, and means foradjusting one of the conveyors and its band supply to and from thebanding means.

15. In a cigar banding machine, means for simultaneously wrapping twocigar bands in spaced relationship about a cigar and adhesively unitingthe respective overlapped ends of the bands, means for delivering twobands simultanef ously to the banding means, and means for moisteningthe respective gummed ends of the two bands before they are wrappedabout the cigar.

FRANCIS X. MALOCSAY.

